Canadians are taking dramatic steps to avoid more ruinous firestorms
The focus is as much on mitigation and preparation as on suppression

Stumpy, soot-stained foundations of homes, charred fir trees that crumble when touched and the skeletons of petrol stations offer mute testimony to the ferocity of the wildfire that roared through the hamlet of Scotch Creek last year. The smoke from it and myriad other Canadian fires reached Baltimore, Barcelona, Berlin and beyond.
Explore more
This article appeared in the The Americas section of the print edition under the headline “Smokey heads north”
More from The Americas

The mad, bad Maduro regime clings to power
Behind-the-scenes negotiations seek to ease him out of office

After protests over a stolen election, the goons crack heads
Yet the brazenness of Nicolás Maduro’s theft crosses a line

The plight of Brazil’s indigenous groups worsens
Blame illegal miners, ranchers, loggers, traffickers and an unsympathetic Congress
Will El Mayo’s arrest slow the spread of fentanyl?
The United States nets a very big fish
The strong dollar is hurting exports from Latin America
For three small dollarised economies it has exposed a lack of competitiveness